Improvement in stands and secretaries combined



M. P. BROWN.

improvement in Stand and Secretary Combined. N0.128,848, Patentedluly 9,1872,

MERGILEUS P. BROWN, FAYETTEVILLE, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN STANDS AND SECRETARIES COMBINED.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 128,848, dated July 9, 1872.

Specification of a new and useful Convertible Stand and Secretary, invented by MER- CILEUs P. BROWN, of Fayetteville, Johnson county, Missouri.

The first part of my invention relates to a novel and convenient article of furniture, which, when closed, constitutes an elegant stand or table, and which becomes, when opened, a convenient secretary or writingdesk. The second part of my invention relates to an arrangement of sliding arms or bars whose inner ends are chamfered in such a manner as to bring the opened leaf into an inclined position whenever the secretary is to be used in counting-houses or for schools and similar places where much writing is to be done.

Figure 1 is a vertical section of my combined stand and secretary in its closed conditions, the section being taken from front to rear. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same when completely opened. Fig. 3 is a perspective view, showing the spring-bolt that is attached to the flap of the secretary. Fig. 4. represents one of the chamfered arms for supporting the leaf in an inclined position; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the groove that guides the inclined arms.

A represents a box-frame, closed" at bottom and supported upon legs B, whose lower ends may have casters fitted in them. Hinged to the front of the frame, at a, is a leaf, 0, which, when closed, conceals an inner leaf, D, the latter being hinged to the back of the frame at a. Secured to the under side of the inner leaf D is a partitioned box or case, E, having two sets of pigeon-holes, F and G, which, when the secretary is shut, are cov-. ered by the flaps f and g. H are buttons or bolts for maintaining said flaps in their closed condition. A vertical partition, I, may extend across from side to side of the stand, so as to divide the interior thereof into two distinct compartments, J and K, for the reception of account-books, &c. Attached to flap f is a spring-bolt, L, which, when the box E is brought to a vertical position, as shown in Fig. 2, instantly flies out, and, by resting upon the top edge of frame A, serves to maintain said box in such position. The inner sides of the frame A are provided with horizontal grooves N for the reception of sliding bars 0 O, which bars, when drawn out, support the leaf 0 in a horizontal position. These bars are confined in the grooves by cleats l? or otherwise.

When my combined stand and secretary is constructed more especially for countingrooms, schools, or other places where it is necessary to do considerable writing, a suitable inclination is imparted to the leaf 0 by the following means: The inner portions of the sliding bars 0 are chamfered at 0, and have attached to them studs or pins It, that tray erse grooves S, whose outer ends terminate in an upward jog, s. When the bars are completely drawn out the pin R ascends the 30g .9, and thereby causes saidbars to assume an 1nclined position, as shown in Fig. 4. When the leaf is to be inclined it is preferred to employ both of the set of grooves P and S, but for ordinary purposes the former only need be used.

T is'a rabbet or ledge, upon which the leaf D rests when closed, and said rebate also serves to support fiapf when the secretary is opened.

When employed as a stand all of the members constituting the secretary are concealed by the leaf 0, as shown in Fig. 1, and when thus closed the flaps f g prevent the contents of the pigeon-holes falling out.

To convert the stand into a secretary the bars 0 O are drawn out and the leaf 0 turned over so as to rest upon them, after which the other leaf D is brought to a vertical position and maintained in such posit1on by spring-c Claims.

chamfered bar 0 0, with its fixed pin R, when the latter is adapted to traverse the groove S s, substantially as set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

Attest:

G. H. KNIGHT, JAMES H. LAYMAN.

MEROILEUS I. BROWN. 

